Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2003 Apr. 19: North)

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Updated on April 20, 2003
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Best time and the azimuth, altitude (A,h) are at lat. 35 deg in the Northern Hemisphere.

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* C/2002 Y1 ( Juels-Holvorcem )


In the Southern Hemisphere, it appears at dawn at 7 mag in early May. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will never observable again.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 19   0 36.92   21 13.1   1.588   0.723    19    6.6     48.3 149.7   3:54 (245,  1)  
Apr. 26   0 49.03   16 22.5   1.617   0.759    20    6.8     48.2 148.9   3:44 (249, -1)  

* C/2002 V1 ( NEAT )


Only observable in the Southern Hemisphere. No observations have been reported since Mar. 8 when it was 5.3 mag. Fading very slowly. It was still 7.7 mag in early April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 19   3 12.66  -18 54.9   2.274   1.587    36    8.9     31.8  72.5  20:04 ( 80,-19)  
Apr. 26   3 26.81  -17 53.7   2.421   1.715    36    9.3     28.5  73.9  20:12 ( 83,-22)  

* C/2001 RX14 ( LINEAR )


It turns to fade after this, and will be fainter than 13 mag in June.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 19  10 59.70   22  0.6   1.567   2.320   127   11.4     22.9 183.3  21:11 (  0, 77)  
Apr. 26  10 59.73   19 23.6   1.661   2.359   122   11.6     22.0 176.3  20:43 (  0, 74)  

* C/2001 HT50 ( LINEAR-NEAT )


It will be observable in good condition at 11-12 mag in 2003 autumn again.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 19   5 36.80   10 48.2   3.342   2.913    56   12.1      7.8 322.2  20:04 ( 84, 27)  
Apr. 26   5 34.95   11 29.6   3.444   2.893    49   12.1      6.4 332.0  20:12 ( 90, 20)  

* 65P/Gunn


It is observable at 12.5 mag for long time from April to August.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 19  18 48.13  -25  9.1   1.952   2.450   107   12.9     12.7 107.2   3:54 (343, 28)  
Apr. 26  18 53.82  -25 36.7   1.871   2.448   113   12.8     10.7 113.0   3:44 (346, 28)  

* 116P/Wild 4


It was observed visually at around 13 mag these days.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 19  15 39.80  -22  7.7   1.327   2.257   150   13.4      6.6 260.7   1:54 (  0, 33)  
Apr. 26  15 35.89  -22 12.6   1.305   2.270   158   13.4      8.8 267.7   1:23 (  0, 33)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1


Appearing very low sky in the morning. It will be higher than 20 deg in May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 19  22 29.50   -6 55.8   6.326   5.763    52   13.7      9.8  63.2   3:54 (286, 10)  
Apr. 26  22 33.46   -6 25.4   6.235   5.761    57   13.7      9.2  62.4   3:44 (288, 13)  

* C/2002 O7 ( LINEAR )


Getting brighter more slowly than usual, and it is still 14 mag. It may become only 10 mag in autumn at best. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will observable only until July, when it may be still 12 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 19  14 20.06   43  5.3   1.877   2.592   125   14.0     38.0 277.3   0:36 (180, 82)  
Apr. 26  13 54.79   43 18.2   1.809   2.506   123   13.8     40.9 268.7  23:35 (180, 82)  

* 154P/2002 Q4 ( Brewington )


It passed the perihelion on Feb. 19 and expected to be fading now. But it may be brighter after this.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 19   3  5.53   29 50.7   2.557   1.718    26   13.8     43.4  72.8  20:04 (121,  8)  
Apr. 26   3 27.94   31 13.2   2.607   1.748    25   14.2     42.6  75.1  20:12 (124,  7)  

* 22P/Kopff


Not observable. It will appear at dawn in June at 15.5 mag, then it will be fading.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 19   0 13.60   -1 15.3   2.861   2.007    25   13.9     32.9  68.7   3:54 (266, -7)  
Apr. 26   0 27.69    0  6.7   2.867   2.046    29   14.1     31.8  68.9   3:44 (266, -6)  

* 30P/Reinmuth 1


It became brighter than expected after the perihelion passage, and it was observed visually around 13 mag in March.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 19  11 14.72   17 40.9   1.314   2.130   132   14.0      5.5 139.4  21:26 (  0, 73)  
Apr. 26  11 17.05   17  6.6   1.395   2.158   127   14.2      8.2 133.1  21:01 (  0, 72)  

* C/2001 K5 ( LINEAR )


It is observable in good condition at 14-15 mag until autumn.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 19  19  6.39   43  2.3   5.288   5.376    89   14.2     14.4   8.9   3:54 (238, 72)  
Apr. 26  19  7.45   44 41.2   5.265   5.391    91   14.2     14.0   4.2   3:44 (229, 74)  

* C/2001 Q4 ( NEAT )


It will reach to 1 mag in 2004 spring. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable until that time.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 19   2 27.46  -32 22.1   5.782   5.114    44   14.4     10.0  79.9  20:04 ( 72,-34)  
Apr. 26   2 33.02  -32 12.1   5.696   5.046    45   14.3     10.4  84.0  20:12 ( 75,-40)  

* 81P/Wild 2


It had brightened very rapidly since September and reached to 15 mag in late November. On the contrary, it had been at 15.5 mag for four months after that. In April, it finally became brighter than 15 mag. It is only observable until late May. It is not observable around the perihelion passage.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 19   5 15.50   21 29.9   2.674   2.189    51   14.8     25.6  83.1  20:04 ( 97, 29)  
Apr. 26   5 28.64   21 49.5   2.697   2.148    47   14.7     27.0  84.5  20:12 (100, 24)  

* C/2002 J4 ( NEAT )


It will be observable at 14.5 mag for a long time from spring to autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it locates very low in the morning until spring.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 19  18 40.56  -38 21.7   3.482   3.933   109   15.2     13.2 157.0   3:54 (348, 15)  
Apr. 26  18 43.14  -39 48.3   3.369   3.909   115   15.1     13.1 164.9   3:44 (351, 15)  

* 53P/Van Biesbroeck


It will be 14 mag from spring to summer.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 19  16 14.35  -11 29.9   1.915   2.788   143   15.4      3.8 331.0   2:28 (  0, 43)  
Apr. 26  16 12.96  -11  6.3   1.842   2.761   150   15.3      5.3 310.4   2:00 (  0, 44)  

* C/2002 X1 ( LINEAR )


It will keep 14-15 mag until the end of 2003. Recently it was reported 1 mag fainter than this ephemeris.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 19   5 38.07   23 42.8   3.070   2.652    56   15.4      7.4 229.3  20:04 ( 97, 34)  
Apr. 26   5 35.76   23 10.5   3.172   2.626    49   15.4      5.7 218.7  20:12 (101, 26)  

* C/2002 T7 ( LINEAR )


It is expected to be 1 mag in the southern sky in 2004 spring.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 19   4 30.23   27  9.5   5.835   5.131    41   15.4      4.6  81.6  20:04 (108, 22)  
Apr. 26   4 32.81   27 14.8   5.843   5.060    35   15.4      5.3  80.9  20:12 (112, 16)  

* C/2000 SV74 ( LINEAR )


It became a bit fainter after the perihelion passage.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 19  13 54.24   43 45.3   4.087   4.738   125   15.5     15.6 250.5   0:09 (180, 81)  
Apr. 26  13 44.99   43  2.9   4.151   4.778   123   15.6     15.6 244.1  23:27 (180, 82)  

* C/2003 G1 ( LINEAR )


New comet. It will be observable in good condition at 16 mag until autumn.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 19  17 41.17   -1 30.2   4.361   4.952   120   15.6     12.2 345.8   3:54 (  0, 53)  
Apr. 26  17 39.43   -0  6.7   4.287   4.958   127   15.6     12.8 339.6   3:26 (  0, 55)  

* C/1999 U4 ( Catalina-Skiff )


It keeps 16 mag until June.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 19  12 51.94   37 15.4   5.695   6.389   130   16.1      8.2 242.5  23:02 (180, 88)  
Apr. 26  12 47.85   36 45.9   5.777   6.422   126   16.1      8.1 235.2  22:31 (180, 88)  

* C/2003 G2 ( LINEAR )


New comet. It raeched to the best at 16.5 mag in mid April. Now it is fading rapidly and will be fainter than 18 mag in May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 19  12 49.29  -13 43.9   0.568   1.561   165   16.7    163.0 248.4  22:54 (  0, 41)  
Apr. 26  11 40.85  -19 26.8   0.627   1.555   143   16.9    130.4 253.0  21:20 (  0, 35)  

* C/2002 J5 ( LINEAR )


As it is a very far object, it keeps 17 mag until 2004 summer.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 19  19  1.05   29 37.0   5.672   5.832    94   16.9     13.8 332.7   3:54 (282, 72)  
Apr. 26  18 57.20   31  2.9   5.587   5.822    98   16.9     14.5 327.3   3:44 (283, 77)  

* 155P/2002 R2 ( Shoemaker 3 )


Brightness change became a bit slower after the perihelion passage. It will be fainter than 18 mag soon.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 19  10  3.83   20 57.9   1.606   2.246   116   17.3     14.5 120.3  20:15 (  0, 76)  
Apr. 26  10 10.44   20  4.4   1.714   2.288   111   17.6     16.0 119.6  20:12 ( 16, 75)  

* C/2003 F1 ( LINEAR )


New comet. It will keep 17.5 mag until summer.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 19  17 11.85   53  2.7   3.708   4.045   102   17.4      7.6 286.2   3:26 (180, 72)  
Apr. 26  17  5.56   53 12.8   3.677   4.038   103   17.4      8.9 274.8   2:52 (180, 72)  

* 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko


It will be fainter than 18 mag in May. Very diffused.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 19  10 54.78   15 44.2   2.022   2.776   129   17.5      4.2 221.1  21:06 (  0, 71)  
Apr. 26  10 54.06   15 19.3   2.144   2.824   123   17.7      4.0 184.3  20:37 (  0, 70)  

* C/2002 A3 ( LINEAR )


It will be fainter than 18 mag in May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 19   9 10.23   23 43.2   5.489   5.819   104   17.6      3.5  40.6  20:04 ( 42, 75)  
Apr. 26   9 11.66   23 59.9   5.622   5.843    97   17.7      3.9  57.3  20:12 ( 62, 70)  

* 66P/du Toit


It will not be observable around the perihelion passage. Before the perihelion passage, it is observable until July when it reaches to 15 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Apr. 19  12 27.06    0 57.5   1.123   2.085   157   18.0     21.9 259.5  22:37 (  0, 56)  
Apr. 26  12 17.24    0 24.4   1.096   2.023   148   17.8     21.1 254.9  22:00 (  0, 55)  

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